Device and method for pressure-driven plug transport and reaction

The present invention provides microfabricated substrates and methods of conducting reactions within these substrates. The reactions occur in plugs transported in the flow of a carrier-fluid.

PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL

Flow mixers; Mixers for falling materials, e.g. solid particles -Static mixers -in which the mixing is affected by moving the components jointly in changing directions, e.g. in tubes provided with baffles or obstructions-Mixing tubes, e.g. wherein the material is moved in a radial or partly reversed direction-Mixing tubes wherein the shape of the tube influences the mixing, e.g. mixing tubes with varying cross-section or provided with inwardly extending profiles-Mixers with bended, curved, coiled, wounded mixing tubes or comprising elements for bending the flow

MIXING, e.g. DISSOLVING, EMULSIFYING OR DISPERSING 

NANOTECHNOLOGY

Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites

SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES

Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus-Aspects relating to microreactors-Materials of construction-comprising coatings other than catalytically active coatings

CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROCESSES, e.g. CATALYSIS OR COLLOID CHEMISTRY; THEIR RELEVANT APPARATUS

Other mixers; Mixing plants; Combinations of mixers-Micromixers-the materials to be mixed flowing in the form of droplets-the components to be mixed being combined in a single independent droplet, e.g. these droplets being divided by a non-miscible fluid or consisting of independent droplets

Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus-Sequential or parallel reactions; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making arrays; Chemical library technology-Apparatus-Features relating to reactor vessels-Individual reactor vessels-Reactor vessels with top and bottom openings

Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus-Fluid handling related problems-Handling flowable solids, e.g. microscopic beads, cells, particles

CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL LABORATORY APPARATUS FOR GENERAL USE

Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus-Fluid handling related problems-Handling of plugs of fluid surrounded by immiscible fluid

Heating or cooling apparatus ; Heat insulating devices-with provision for submitting samples to a predetermined sequence of different temperatures, e.g. for treating nucleic acid samples 

Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus-Aspects relating to microreactors-Control aspects-Sensing operations-Type of sensors-Optical sensors-Ultraviolet light

Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus-Aspects relating to microreactors-Additional features-Microreactors placed in parallel, on the same or on different supports

Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers-Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes -with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures -by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip -characterised by multiphase flow arrangements-specially adapted for droplet or plug flow, e.g. digital microfluidics 

Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus-Aspects relating to microreactors-Control aspects-Sensing operations-Type of sensors-Optical sensors-Infrared light

MEASURING; TESTING

Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor-using a stream of discrete samples flowing along a tube system, e.g. flow injection analysis

INVESTIGATING OR ANALYSING MATERIALS BY DETERMINING THEIR CHEMICAL OR PHYSICAL PROPERTIES 

Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus-Sequential or parallel reactions; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making arrays; Chemical library technology-Apparatus-Means for coding or tagging the apparatus or the reagents-Chemical means-fluorophore

Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus-Aspects relating to microreactors-Additional features-Aspects relating to the size of the reactor-Dimensions of the flow channels

Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus-Sequential or parallel reactions, e.g. for the synthesis of polypeptides or polynucleotides; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making molecular arrays 

Mixing according to the phases to be mixed, e.g. dispersing or emulsifying-Mixing liquids with liquids; Emulsifying-using flow mixing

Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus-Fluid handling related problems-Handling flowable solids, e.g. microscopic beads, cells, particles-Trapping microscopic beads

Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus-Aspects relating to microreactors-Additional features-Microreactors placed in series, on the same or on different supports

Moving or stopping fluids-Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means-specific forces-electrical forces, e.g. electrokinetic-Dielectrophoretic forces

Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus-Aspects relating to microreactors-Laminate assemblies, i.e. the reactor comprising a stack of plates

Solutions for specific problems relating to chemical or physical laboratory apparatus-Integrating sample preparation and analysis in single entity, e.g. lab-on-a-chip concept

Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus-Sequential or parallel reactions; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making arrays; Chemical library technology-Features relative to the processes being carried out-Sequential processes

BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING

Preparation of compounds containing saccharide radicals -Preparation of nitrogen-containing carbohydrates-N-glycosides-Nucleotides-Polynucleotides, e.g. nucleic acids, oligoribonucleotides

FERMENTATION OR ENZYME-USING PROCESSES TO SYNTHESISE A DESIRED CHEMICAL COMPOUND OR COMPOSITION OR TO SEPARATE OPTICAL ISOMERS FROM A RACEMIC MIXTURE 

Additional constructional details-Geometry, shape and general structure-Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices-Multiple inlets and one sample wells, e.g. mixing, dilution

Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers-Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes -with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures -by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip -characterised by the means for controlling flow resistance, e.g. flow controllers, baffles 

Mixing characterised by the nature of the mixed materials or by the application field-Mixing of laboratory samples e.g. in preparation of analysing or testing properties of materials

TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC

Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing-including sample preparation-Volumetric liquid transfer

TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing-Automated chemical analysis-with a continuously flowing sample or carrier stream-with formation of a segmented stream

Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus-Sequential or parallel reactions; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making arrays; Chemical library technology-Type of compounds synthesised-Organic compounds-Peptides

Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus-Sequential or parallel reactions; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making arrays; Chemical library technology-Features relative to the processes being carried out-Parallel processes

Flow mixers; Mixers for falling materials, e.g. solid particles -Injector mixers -in conduits or tubes through which the main component flows

Investigating characteristics of particles; Investigating permeability, pore-volume or surface-area of porous materials-Investigating individual particles-Optical investigation techniques, e.g. flow cytometry-Handling flow, e.g. hydrodynamic focusing-Handling samples, e.g. injecting samples

Automatic analysis not limited to methods or materials provided for in any single one of groups G01N1/00 - G01N33/00; Handling materials therefor-using a stream of discrete samples flowing along a tube system, e.g. flow injection analysis-Flow Injection Analysis

Moving or stopping fluids-Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means-specific mechanical means and fluid pressure-fluid pressure, pneumatics

Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus-Sequential or parallel reactions; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making arrays; Chemical library technology-Features relative to the processes being carried out-Solution-phase processes

Chemistry: analytical and immunological testing-Condition responsive control

Flow mixers; Mixers for falling materials, e.g. solid particles -Static mixers -in which the mixing is affected by moving the components jointly in changing directions, e.g. in tubes provided with baffles or obstructions-Mixing tubes, e.g. wherein the material is moved in a radial or partly reversed direction-Mixing tubes wherein the shape of the tube influences the mixing, e.g. mixing tubes with varying cross-section or provided with inwardly extending profiles

Investigating characteristics of particles; Investigating permeability, pore-volume or surface-area of porous materials-Investigating individual particles-Optical investigation techniques, e.g. flow cytometry-Handling flow, e.g. hydrodynamic focusing

Additional constructional details-Geometry, shape and general structure-Configuration of multiple channels and/or chambers in a single devices-Serpentine channels

Moving or stopping fluids-Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means-specific forces-thermal energy, e.g. vaporisation, bubble jet-Marangoni flow; Thermocapillary effect

Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus-Microreactors, e.g. miniaturised or microfabricated reactors 

Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus-Sequential or parallel reactions; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making arrays; Chemical library technology-Type of compounds synthesised-Organic compounds-Non-biologic macromolecules, e.g. polymeric compounds

Moving or stopping fluids-Moving fluids with specific forces or mechanical means-specific forces-radiation pressure, optical tweezers

Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus-Sequential or parallel reactions; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making arrays; Chemical library technology-Type of compounds synthesised-Organic compounds-Nucleotides

TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE

Technologies having an indirect contribution to adaptation to climate change-Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE

Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus-Aspects relating to microreactors-Mixing

Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus-Sequential or parallel reactions; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making arrays; Chemical library technology-Type of compounds synthesised-Organic compounds-Biological products

Measuring or testing processes involving enzymes, nucleic acids or microorganisms ; Compositions therefor; Processes of preparing such compositions-involving hydrolase-involving esterase

MEASURING OR TESTING PROCESSES INVOLVING ENZYMES, NUCLEIC ACIDS OR MICROORGANISMS ; COMPOSITIONS OR TEST PAPERS THEREFOR; PROCESSES OF PREPARING SUCH COMPOSITIONS; CONDITION-RESPONSIVE CONTROL IN MICROBIOLOGICAL OR ENZYMOLOGICAL PROCESSES

Containers or dishes for laboratory use, e.g. laboratory glassware; Droppers-Containers for the purpose of retaining a material to be analysed, e.g. test tubes -with fluid transport, e.g. in multi-compartment structures -by integrated microfluidic structures, i.e. dimensions of channels and chambers are such that surface tension forces are important, e.g. lab-on-a-chip -specially adapted for handling suspended solids or molecules independently from the bulk fluid flow, e.g. for trapping or sorting beads, for physically stretching molecules 

Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus-Sequential or parallel reactions; Apparatus and devices for combinatorial chemistry or for making arrays; Chemical library technology-Type of compounds synthesised-Compositions, e.g. coatings, crystals, formulations

Chemical, physical or physico-chemical processes in general; Their relevant apparatus-Aspects relating to microreactors-Feeding or evacuation

Investigating characteristics of particles; Investigating permeability, pore-volume or surface-area of porous materials-Investigating individual particles-Optical investigation techniques, e.g. flow cytometry-microstructural devices

Prosecution History analysis

Examiner Search analysis

Invalidity Framework analysis

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